Warriors’ Draymond Green starts counseling, expected to miss at least 3 weeks: Sources

Golden State Warriors ahead Draymond Green has began counseling and is expected to stay sidelined through suspension for at least the subsequent three weeks, league sources mentioned.

The NBA introduced an indefinite suspension for Green on Wednesday for placing Phoenix Suns heart Jusuf Nurkić within the face throughout a recreation one night time earlier. Joe Dumars, NBA government vice chairman and head of basketball operations, mentioned in an announcement that Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” was an element within the determination.

League sources mentioned Green, 33, was expected to obtain counseling and work with the Warriors and NBA whereas suspended. People round Green and the group mentioned the four-time NBA champion has been understanding and ready to endure the method required to return to the group in a full capability. Those sources wouldn’t reveal the specifics of Green’s counseling out of respect for his privateness.

A 3-week timeframe would imply his suspension stretches roughly 12 video games.

Green’s newest incident — his twentieth profession ejection — got here within the third quarter of Tuesday’s recreation between the Warriors and Suns. Green appeared to be grappling for publish positioning towards Nurkić close to the nook, swung round and nailed Nurkić within the face with a wild proper arm. Nurkić fell and stayed down for a few minute.

Officials stopped the sport for a evaluation, which didn’t take lengthy. Green was ejected and didn’t even dispute it. He ran straight to the locker room.

Following the sport, Green apologized to Nurkić. He mentioned it was unintentional and he was attempting to promote a foul by flailing his arms.

“As you know, I’m not one to apologize for things I meant to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf. Because I didn’t intend to hit him,” Green mentioned. “I sell calls with my arms.”

Green’s suspension is the sixth of his NBA profession and his second this season. The league additionally suspended Green for 5 video games in November for his involvement in an altercation towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Green put Rudy Gobert in a headlock. He served two separate one-game suspensions final season — as soon as for accumulating 16 technical fouls, and a second within the playoffs for stepping on Sacramento Kings energy ahead Domantas Sabonis.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned he thought an indefinite suspension for Green made sense to assist the Twelfth-year veteran make a change.

“To me, this is about more than basketball. It’s about helping Draymond,” Kerr mentioned. “I think it’s an opportunity for Draymond to step away and to make a change in his approach and his life and that’s not an easy thing to do. That’s not something you say, ‘OK, five games and then he’s going to be fine.’”

The Warriors (12-14) are 2-1 since Green’s ejection. They went 2-3 throughout his earlier five-game suspension.

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(Photo: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)